San Diego Holistic IVF Support

Promoting a Healthy, Low-Stress Path to Pregnancy

Along with Hanabusa’s minimalist approach to IVF using Mini or Japanese
IVF, we are dedicated to our patients’ overall health and well-being.
To that end, we collaborate with a range of holistic practitioners whose
treatments support the entire IVF process and help to create a healthy,
low-stress path to pregnancy.

Because stress is one of the leading causes complicating and compromising
reproductive health, fertility and IVF success, we recommend that our
patients incorporate several stress-reduction practices and techniques
into their treatment plans. We work with acupuncturists and Chinese medicine
specialists who can help patients enhance their fertility. We also invite
specialists to discuss these topics and how their treatments can benefit
the overall IVF process.

Acupuncture

Heidi Brockmyre, (M.S. LAc) is a San Diego-based acupuncturist and Chinese
medicine practitioner specializing in fertility. She has worked with our
patients in the past and we’ve asked her to share some of her knowledge
and recommendations about acupuncture, herbal medicine, and stress-reduction
techniques before, during and after IVF:

“Stress and the stress hormone cortisol are directly linked to fertility
and reproductive issues… It’s linked to overall hormone health,
and, in the case of IVF, the acupuncture sessions help the body better
process fertility medications, which makes the entire IVF process more
comfortable for the patient.”

Through a combination of acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and lifestyle
coaching, Brookmeyer works with her clients to help them manage their
stress levels as they prepare for and undergo IVF.

Overall, Brockmyre posits that acupuncture is a great stress reliever.
She works with her clients to develop a treatment plan that will help
alleviate both the stress on the mind and the body, ensuring the best
environment for fertilization and a lasting pregnancy.

Brockmyre recommends continuing acupuncture sessions through the first
trimester. “Acupuncture works over a long period of time and so
has a cumulative effect,” she explains. “The best time to
begin treatment is three months prior to the start of IVF.” She
also advises patients to continue the treatment for 3 months into the
pregnancy for optimal results.

Chinese Herbal Medicine

In addition to acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine can also help her clients
aiming to conceive through IVF.

“Following some of Chinese medicine’s basic tenets can help
increase fertility and reproductive health. For instance, an imbalance
in the liver can be related to fertility problems and hormonal issues.”

Through a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicines, Brockmyre can
help to correct the imbalance. She also works with the patient to determine
whether or not they have a hot, dry, cold, or damp system and she then
identifies which foods patients should be eating accordingly. “For
instance, while salad may seem a healthy choice,” she says, “it
may actually be better for certain clients to avoid cold vegetables and
lettuces and instead eat cooked vegetables.”

Lifestyle—Exercise, Diet and Sleep

In her practice, Brockmyre also works with her clients on their overall
lifestyle and wellbeing, examining exercise, diet, and sleep patterns.
“All of this can have an effect on fertility,” she notes,
“and a bit of lifestyle coaching can help reduce stress and create
an optimal environment for IVF success.”

Hanabusa, a leading San Diego IVF specialist, has collaborated with Brockmyre
for several years and she’s helped our patients enhance their fertility,
reduce stress, and prepare for fertilization and a healthy pregnancy.
Her Fertility Wellness blog posts also contains valuable information.
You can learn more about Brockmyre and her practice here:
www.heidibrockmyre.com.

What Our Patients Say About Us

After hours of research about IVF, I found that most websites had a limited
amount of information buried under the same repro center promises and
static websites. Finding Hanabusa IVF's site piqued my interest, though,
and after reading a couple of your blogs, I felt safe. A doctor that spends
time educating, pointing out both the negatives and the positives is both
unique and refreshing. I am so glad I found you and can't wait to meet you!
-JH